Get Arty!

Ref: C3668869

Ever fancied making a pot? Hand printing your own gift wrap? Making your own felt slippers? This course could be right up your street, offering students the opportunity to try their hand at a number of different art forms including drawing, ceramics, textile art, print making and sculpture.

Course aim

This course offers students the opportunity to try their hand at a number of different art forms before embarking on a project of their choice.

Who is the course for?

Beginners and intermediate learners.

What topics will this course cover

Weeks 1 to 7 will provide students with the opportunity to learn at least 3 new skills.
Instruction will be given on how to make a blind drawing, a measured drawing, an etching, a lino print, a pinch pot, a coil pot and both wet and dry felt. Students can try their hand at everything taught or choose to concentrate on a few. The tutor will demonstrate each skill and provide individual support to all students irrespective of their choices.
Weeks 8 to 11 will provide students with the opportunity to complete an extended project of their choice, using at least one of the skills learnt. Individual support will be given throughout to ensure the best possible outcome.
With regards to the four WEA themes the course will:
Enhance students employability by giving them the skills to create goods for sale if they should like, and advice on where and how to do this
Enhance students health and wellbeing by providing a supportive and relaxing environment for both learning and socialising, activities should be relaxing and students should make new friends and feel a sense of pride and achievement
Enhance students community engagement by providing them with training in how to use the community ceramics facilities if they so wish and offering them the opportunity for an end of year exhibition in the community gallery
Enhance students cultural awareness by providing them with artistic skills and the facility to locate their own ideas and work in a wider cultural and historical context

What will it be like?

WEA classes are friendly and supportive. You will be encouraged to work together with your fellow students and tutor. You will be asked to share your ideas and views in the class and work with the group to give and accept feedback in a supportive environment. The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you to be actively involved in your learning. You may be asked to undertake work to support your course outside of your class.

By the end of the course I should be able to:

Use the internet as a source of inspiration and learning
Use three different artistic techniques
Plan a project of their own choice
Evaluate their own work
Identify a path for their own progression

How will I know I'm making progress?

This course has no exams, tests or formal assessments. You will receive guidance and support relevant to your own needs and only be expected to work at your own pace. The most important thing when learning practical art skills is trial and error and failure, as well as success, is welcomed. The tutor will support you every step of the way, will help you identify where things have gone wrong and where they have worked, what learning can be taken from this and how to incorporate it into your next project. Feedback will be informal and provided verbally on an individual and group basis.

What else do I need to know, do or bring?

Both the studio and the activities you do can be dusty and messy. It is advisable to bring with you a cheap dust mask, rubber or latex gloves and something to cover your clothes if you are not wearing old clothes you do not mind ruining.
Students are required to make a one off contribution of £5 towards materials and firing costs. There will be no other charge unless specialist or expensive materials are required for individual projects. If this is the case the tutor will advice on cheaper alternatives.

Reading and information sources

The internet is a great source of inspiration and learning. It is advisable that in advance of the course students type the topics into their search engine and explore the array of images that come up to give them some ideas of the direction they might like to take. This will help the tutor better structure the course to their needs.

What could the course lead to?

This course could lead to self-employment as an artist/maker, to further and higher education in the arts at Scarborough Sixth Form College ('a' levels in textiles, graphics and fine art of Foundation diploma in fine art) at Yorkshire Coast College (BTEC diploma, Foundation diploma or BA) or simply to other creative WEA courses for personal gain.